September 9, 2026 / Awards
Jessica Babrick and Jonathan Forster Named to Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal’s Prestigious “Top Estate & Wealth Management Lawyers” – 2026
Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Jessica Babrick and Jonathan Forster have been recognized among California’s “Top Estate & Wealth Management Lawyers” for 2026 by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal. Annually, this feature highlights California’s prominent legal experts who advise top-tier clients on securing, managing, and transferring family wealth.
As chair of the firm’s litigation department, Jessica advocates for individuals involved in post-death family disagreements, as well as fiduciaries in conservatorships and trust disputes.
“This area of law requires us to be a counselor in the true sense because it involves family disputes that are often decades in the making,” she tells The Daily Journal. “Understanding the family dynamics is as important as understanding the law in reaching resolution.”
In her recent casework, she successfully defended a father’s trust against a step-sibling’s allegations of capacity issues and undue influence regarding the equal division of assets among sons and step-sons. Additionally, she advocated for a trustee against claims of fiduciary duty breaches concerning the administration and funding of an uncle’s trust.
In addition to her practice, Jessica is dedicated to pro bono work for charitable organizations, which includes assisting with adoptions, obtaining a guardianship for an orphan from Ukraine, and aiding the Alliance for Children’s Rights in securing a multi-million-dollar bequest.
Jonathan splits his practice between traditional estate planning and estate tax reduction planning for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, including pre-liquidity event planning, business succession planning, wealth transfer strategies, and charitable planning.
“The most important thing is to truly listen to your clients,” Jonathan says to the Daily Journal. “I like to say that I can come up with the perfect estate plan, but if it isn’t meeting the clients’ goals and objectives, it cannot possibly be the perfect plan,” he adds.
Jonathan is currently advising the founder of a tech firm on strategies to establish multi-generational Nevada trusts and transfer company equity as gifts while share valuations remain favorable.
He taught estate planning at UCLA Extension for 10 years and speaks regularly on estate tax reduction planning.
Both Jonathan and Jessica are members of Weinstock Manion’s management Committee and are integral in shaping the firm’s direction.
To view the full 2026 list, click below (subscription required).
Top Estate & Wealth Management Lawyers – Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal